Many cults and denominations have long taught that hell is not
eternal, but lately it has come to my attention that brethren may be
entertaining the thought. Let me be blunt...if hell is not forever,
neither is heaven! But, you never hear someone teaching that.
Everyone wants heaven to be never ending, but hell...well, it just
does not seem right that someone be punished forever. And that is
exactly where man gets off track.
God claims in Isaiah 55 that His thoughts and ways are not ours. And
Paul says in I Corinthians that never has it entered into the heart
of man, what God has prepared for us (2:9). So, when we think
something just does not seem right, that does not make it so with
God.
God says in one and the same verse that existence after this life
for all humanity will either be life eternal or punishment for the
same duration. Though in the English translation there may be two
different words used, in the Greek it is the same used to describe
both. Therefore, if paradise with God is forever and ever, so is the
punishment away from His presence.
Some might say that the word eternal sometimes means “for the set
duration” and does not mean without end. To which I respond, yes,
you are right, sometimes it does; but, sometimes it does not. And as
I just stated, the same verse (Matthew 25:46) describes heaven the
same way, so if punishment in hell is not without end, neither is
life in heaven.
Some might say that the word eternal sometimes means eternal in
source or origin. To which, I respond, yes, you are right, sometimes
it means that, but not all the time. The context will have to be
considered to see if hell is being said to be eternal due to it
being God’s place prepared for the devil and his angels, or is it
eternal in scope compared to time. Actually, since in the
everlasting realm there is no time; that 1 day and a 1000 years are
all the same; then it would follow that it is unending. Do you
understand what I am saying? Homer Hailey wrote a book titled: “From
Creation To The Day Of Eternity”, which title has always been
intriguing to me. But, he is right. When this world is no more, it
will mark the DAY of eternity. It will be just one continuous day or
night as will be the case with those in hell.
Do not be misled into thinking hell fire is anything less than
forever and ever, amen. ~
From a tract of the Appleton church of Christ, Appleton WI.
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Why Is It?
Morris D. Norman
We see so many in today’s society that are doing so many things to
destroy health and shorten life. There are many campaigns and much
public advertisement to keep people from the evil of drugs, drink,
and tobacco but the number who participate is ever growing. Sober
thinking people say “Why is it?” But there are areas in which
preachers, elders, teachers and concerned Christians may ask, “Why
is it?”
Why is it that people have to be urged to love and serve the Lord?
It is the only way that man can possibly escape an eternal hell.
When people find out that they have some dread disease, they will
immediately see a doctor and hope that there is a remedy that they
will be able to follow to rid them of the disease. But when they
find out that they are on the road to eternal ruin, they very often
take offense at the one who sounds the warning. Why is it?
Why is it that people have to be urged to even consider what the
Bible says? It is extremely difficult to find people who are even
interested in a study of the scriptures; people who are interested
enough in their souls to sit down and talk about what the Bible says
for a few minutes.
Why is it that people have to be urged to obey the gospel after they
have learned the truth and know what jeopardy their souls are in?
Every assembly is characterized by repeating the Lord’s invitation.
Lesson after lesson is presented to urge upon those who are not
Christians to respond to the Lord’s pleadings. But they spurn
invitation after invitation. They spurn the yearnings, the love and
encouragement of those who are interested in them. Why is it?
Why is it that “Christians” have to be urged to regularly attend the
worship and study assemblies? One would think that those who “love”
the Lord would not have to be urged (and really, those who love the
Lord do not have to be urged, they attend). But those who take the
responsibility of teaching, spend so much of their time trying to
get people to do what is good for them and what they know they ought
to do. Why is it?
Does this not speak of the fact that others love our souls more than
we love our own when we have to be urged to do what is good for our
eternal security? Others spend hours in study and prayer, but we
lightly turn away their pleadings. Why is it? ~
From Perspectives, October 1978
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Does It Matter?
by Clarence W. Fell
Many people have been taught that what they believe and practice
does not matter as long as they are sincere. Let’s compare this idea
to some Bible passages.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven.
22 “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many
wonders in your name?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never
knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Jesus says that just because a person thinks himself to be a
Christian does not make him one. There is more to being a Christian
than just getting involved with some religious group. We must learn
from the Bible what God requires of us if we hope to enter the
kingdom of heaven.
Revelation 3:1
In Revelation 3:1 we find a situation similar to the one in Matthew
7:21-23. Jesus said to the church in Sardis, “I know your works,
that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”
The church in Sardis had a good reputation among men. People admired
and looked up to the church at Sardis, but God’s judgment of Sardis
was completely opposite. God said they were dead. In verse two He
tells them that there is still hope. In verse 3 He tells them to
remember what they had originally received, return to it, or suffer
the consequences. Even though they look religious in the eyes of
men, God did not approve of them.
II John 9-11
9 “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ
does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both
the father and the son. 10 “If anyone comes to you and does not
bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet
him; 11 “For he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
Our beliefs and practices are regulated by Jesus’ teaching.
Transgressing the doctrine of Christ means to go beyond what Christ
taught, to do something that is not authorized in his teaching.
This can be illustrated by using the speed limit. On the interstate
system there is a minimum and maximum speed. We are authorized by
law to travel at any speed between the minimum and maximum. When we
do this we are abiding in the teaching of the law. If we travel at a
speed less than or greater than what has been authorized, then we
have transgressed and gone beyond the teaching of the law. We are
guilty of lawlessness.
In religious matters it is the same. If we fall short of doing the
will of God (James 4:17) or add to His will, then we have failed to
abide in Jesus’ teachings.
That is what John taught in Revelation 22:18,19 when he wrote, “For
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this
book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the
plagues that are written in this book: and if anyone takes away from
the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part
from the book of life, from the holy city, and from the things which
are written in this book.”
Changing God’s word does not mean that people actually rewrite the
Bible. It means that people twist the meaning of the scriptures
around to suit themselves. Peter warned us that some people twist
the scriptures to their own destruction (II Peter 3:16).
If you follow a teacher that twists the scriptures you will suffer
as a result. Jesus said, “If the blind leads the blind, both will
fall into a ditch,” (Matt.15:14).
James 1:25
“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in
it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one
will be blessed in what he does.”
James teaches that those who look into the perfect law and continue
in it will be blessed. To continue in the law simply means to obey
it.
Let’s take it a step further. How important is it that we continue
in the perfect law of liberty? James said, “For whoever shall keep
the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all,”
(James 2:10). Obviously, James considered it an important matter to
closely follow the perfect law of liberty.
Philippians 3:17
“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk,
as you have us for a pattern.”
If sincerity is the only requirement God has, then why did Paul tell
us to follow the pattern of his example? (see also I Cor. 1:1,2) The
fact that Paul spoke by inspiration tells us that it was God’s will
for Paul to teach others to follow the pattern of the New Testament.
At another time Paul taught, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and
hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our
epistle,” (II Thess. 2:15).
Paul consistently taught that it was important to follow the Bible
pattern. When changes were introduced Paul strongly opposed, saying,
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from him who called you
in the grace of Christ to a different gospel, which is not another;
but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of
Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be
accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone
preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let
him be accursed,” (Galatians 1:6-9).
The problem Paul spoke against was not the teaching of an entirely
different gospel, but rather a “perverted” gospel. The specific
problem was an unauthorized blending of the Old and New Testaments.
The Galatians were misusing the inspired scriptures.
Does it Matter?
Don’t take my word for it. Search the scriptures and get a Bible
answer. That is the only answer that will count in the day of
judgment. Check out the verses listed below and see what the Bible
teaches.
Lev. 10:1-3
I Sam. 15:22-33
Prov. 3:5; 14:12; 28:26
Isa. 55:8-9
Jer. 10:23
Matt. 5:17-19; 7:21-23
Matt. 15:9, 13, 14; 28:18-20
Luke 6:46
John 8:32; 12:48
John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10, 14
John 15:4-6; 17:17
Acts 2:42; 17:11
Rom. 10:1-3; 16:17
I Cor. 7:19
Gal. 1:6-9; 3:15
Phil. 3:16,17; 4:9
I Thes. 5:21
II Thes. 1:7-9; 2:15; 3:6
I Tim. 1:3
II Tim. 1:13; 2:5
Titus 1:16
James 1:22-26; 2:10
II Peter 3:16
I John 2:3-5, 24; 4:1, 5:2,3
II John 6, 9-11
Jude 3
Rev. 3:1; 22:14
So, what did you discover? Do the things you believe and practice in
religion matter to God? ~
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